The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-11-04
(Erom Wednesdays pAny FRrE PzEss)
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS,
Annual Convention Of the Blue Earth
County 8. 8. Convention.
Last Evenings Exercises and To-
Days Dolngs.

Days Doings.
The nineteenth annual convention of
the Blue Earth County Sunday school
Association opened at the Presbyterian
church last evening with fairly large
attendance of delegates, who represent
ed the entire county. The majority Of
the delegates are ladies and all are ex
ceptionally intelligent and earnest peo-
pie who have the good of humanity at
heart and are willing to work hard and
faithfully to that end.
The convention was called TO order at
promptly 7:S0 o'clock and a prayer and
praise service, conducted by Geo. Fl.
Brewster, occupied the first half hour.
Rev. w. Whitney was introduced and
took for his theme "Some of the Posi-
bilities of the Sunday School Work"
He stated that the first notification that
he had received that he was to appear
on the program was in the columns of
the DAILY FREE Press. He advocated
three lines of work to improve on the
past work of the Sunday School and
gave three means of accomplishing the
possibilities of this work.
In the first place, teachers must be
more thoroughly prepared for their
work, PIety was not the only qualifiea-
ton sought, but knowledge of practical
things was also necessary. The non-at-
tendance at Sunday Schools of large
part of the young people was due to a
lack of this knowledge on the part of the
teachers.
Second, the unity of plan contemplate
ed in the international series of lessons
must be more nearly followed out.
There appeared to some to be an uncon-
nected variety Of subjects, but as a mat
ter of fact there was one general plan,
which many teachers failed to grasp, and
each lesson has its appropriate place.
Third, the desirability of securing a
more accurate view of Christianity. 1t
should be borne In mind that God had
given His word to live by, and the prin-
clples of life and not of death should be
taught. 1t was the province of the teach
er to perceive and point out practical
things.
As means by which these things might
be accomplished, the speaker placed
normal class instruction first. The
teacher must be trained for the work
ana the speaker showed how they might
train themselves.
Second, careful preview and analY-
sis of the course of study to be pursued
was necessary.
Third, means for imparting a more
adequate view of the practical phases OF
Christianity. This was divided into
three subheads. (a) The pupil should
be taught to consider the Bible as a
guide book and final arbiter. TO- The
pupil should be taught to observe the
result of the teaching of Christianity
among men. (c) Among the methods
of teaching these means social Bible
study was valuable adjunct.
Elder Edwin Rogers was next intro
duced and spoke upon "How to Interest
People in Bible Study" He stated that
he, also, had received notice of his APP
pearing on the program through the
DAILY FREE PRESS. He held that the
work of God was live and powerful
work and was capable of moulding life
and character after Christ. The word
Of God was thus perfect only when per.
fectlY taught. The main ideas of how to
interest people in the study of the Bible
were brought out as follows:
/ First, he who teaches the bible must
have thorough knowledge of its con.
ftents.
Second, he must feel the Bible-the
force of its authority and the weight o.
its thoughts.
Third, he must read the bible in the
light OF Christ. The speaker considered
this heading as fundamental.
Fourth, he must righttully divide the
word of Truth, beginning with the fun.
damentalities and going upwards. The
speaker believed in the topical study Of
the Bible.
Fifth, he must walk in the way he
teaches. The speaker had known men,
and one especially, who could teach the
Bible pretty we'll but who made no pro-
fession of christianity.
Sixth, he must be lover of humanity
Rev. III. A. Bushnell offered prayer
and the meeting adjourned after uniting
in singing hymn.
The delegates who had not yet been
assigned to places of entertainment were
taken care of after the meeting by the
committee on entertainment.
THIS FORENOON.
The morning session of the conven-
ton began at nine o'clock but as the
delegates were slow in arriving the at
tendance was rather small. Mr.. Geo.
H. Brewster presided and Mrs. ]. B.
Coy occupied the secretary's chair. A
half hour was given to devotional exer-
cises, led by Mrs. Coy.
Mr.. ]. H. Robinson introduced dis
cussion on the subject of 'How can the
SUNDAY School Work of Blue Earth
County be best Promoted" He thought
that the work should be better organ
lied for one thing. A salaried worker
should be put into the field, one who
could 90 to the different parts of the
county and lend aid and encouragement
to the local workers. Individuals, also,
could do their share of the work by
stimulating and encouraging the work
in their vicinity. The question was
then thrown open to the convention
and the points made by Mr.. Robinson
were sustained by other speakers. The
further points were taken that the work
should be made more interesting, that
pictures should be freely used, and that
the workers should arise earlier on Sum-
day morning SO as not to be stupid in
the school.
A motion to appoint committee on
resolutions to whom the matter of the
county work should be referred with
instructions to bring in a report at this
evenings session was carried.
The reports of schools and the meth
DDS of work was next in order and were
received from the following towns:
Amboy, Vernon Center, Mcpherson,
Garden City, Mankato, Good Thunder,
Medo and Mankato City. Nearly all Of
the reports showed good membership
and an earnest spirit pervading the
work.
Mr.. S. Sherin, of st. Paul, State secre-